Soft edge seat construction



L. c. FISHER ETAL 2,334,868 SOFT EDGE SEAT CONSTRUCTION I Filed Sept. 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l I 9 ATTORNE No'v. 23, 1943. Q F|$HER ET AL 2,334,868

SOFT EDGE SEAT CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORN 5.

Patented Nov. 23, 1943 assists Lyman C.

HighlandPark, Mich,

Fishery Detroit, and Harry L. Keeier, assigno'rs to The Murray Corporation of America, Detroit, Mich.,a corporation of Delaware Applicationseptember 21, 1940, serial No. 357,746 1 Claims. (Cl. 155-179) Our invention relates to cushions, and particularly to a cushion of the type used in automobiles, davenports, and the like, havinga soft front edge of the type which deflects individually relative to one or more occupants.

It has been the practice in the art to provide a heavy wire about the'front top edge of cushions to maintain form to the padding and upholstering material secured thereover. Braces were attached to the wire at intervals throughout the length of the cushion to maintain it in position and to provide strength to resist the tension applied by the padding and upholstering cloth. In this construction very little resiliency, to permit downward deflection, remained in the border wire. As a result, an occupant would feel the edge of the seat, since the position of the legs over the edge would not produce sufficient deflection at the point of contact.

In practicing our invention, we form the edge of the cushion with sections of preformed wire elements which are secured to the front row of springs and hinged to each other. Material resistance is provided by such an edge against movement rearwardly of the cushion while permitting the necessary deflection at the contact point throughout the width of the cushion.

Accordingly, the main objects of our invention are; to provide elements formed of wire individual to the front row of springs of a cushion to which they are secured and hinged to each other to permit proportional deflection under load at any point along the front edge; to provide elements formed of wire which are hinged to each other and supported along the front edge of the cushion in a manner to resist rearward deflection while permitting material downward deflection; to form a flexible border element from preformed units which are hinged'togather and secured to individual springs of the front rows of a cushion; and in general, to provide a flexible border element for the front edge of the cushion, which is simple in construction, positive in operation, and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of our invention will be either specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of our invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken perspective View of a cushion having a soft front edge border element which embodies features of our invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken plan View, with' parts in section, of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. i is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3, showing a modified form thereof; 7

Fig. 5 is a View of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3, showing a further form which our invention may assume;

Fig. 6 is a view of structure, similar to that iilustrated in Fig. 3, showing a still further form of structure which embodies our invention;

Fig. 7 is a view of structure, similar to that iilustrated in Fig. 6, with the border element extended forwardly of the front row of springs; and

Fig. 8 is a View of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3, showing a still further form which our invention may assume.

The cushion illustrated in Fig. l-is similar to the conventional type of cushion, embodying a base frame it for supporting a plurality of springs l I mounted in rows of pockets l2 made of burlap, cotton, or other like cloth. Hog rings it secure the springs to each other and to a border Wire l4 attached to the back and the side top edges of the assembly.

In Figs. 2 and 3, we have illustrated a front border element It, which comprises a plurality of U-shaped wire elements it, which have the legs bent at right angles at if, then outwardly at E8, and inwardly at l9. lhe portion I9 is serpentine in shape to prevent slipping when secured by a hog ring it to the top coil of the springs i i.

The right angle portion ii of the wire element 26 is hinged to the portion i! of the next adjacent element it by a collar 2 i. The portions i! of the endmost elements are secured by a collar 2! to the ends of the border wire i i.

A pad 22 is placed upon the top of the springs and an upholstering cloth 23 is stretched over the pad and border element l5 and secured to the base frame If The border element it offers material resistance against rearward deflection so that the shape of the top edge of the cushion is maintained at all times. The border element E5 is capable of being deflected when loaded at any point along the front edge of the cushion an amount conforming to the applied load. Each of the wire elements I ii is attached to an individual spring H so that the deflection of any spring permits the element is supported thereby to deflect a like amount without deflecting other of the elements forming the cushion edge except the tWo adjacent elements which deflect with the springs on which they are supported, which springs deflect proportionally with the first said spring.

In Fig. 4, we have illustrated a border element made up of a plurality of U-shaped wire elements 23, the legs 21 of which are disposed on the diameter of the springs H where they are secured by hog rings l3 over a serpentine portion 28 thereof. The collars 2| hinge the elements 26 to each other while the endmost coil H is provided with half of the element 26 having the end bent rearwardly at 29 and attached to the end of the border wire M by a collar 2|, This arrangement of parts, while similar to that disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3, dilfers in the application of adjacent legs 21 of two elements 26 on a single spring. That is to say, one spring supports One leg of each of the elements 26. The hinging of the elements occurs on the diameter of each of the springs in the front row rather than in a plane between the springs, as occurred in the structure illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

In Fig. 5, we have illustrated a form of element similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3, but differing therefrom by having the elements extended to be triangular in form. The border element 3| embodies a plurality of triangular shaped wire elements 32, the front ends of which are aligned and retained in hinged relation by collars 33. A V- shaped portion 34 of each element extends over the top of the springs where they are secured by hog rings l3 to the springs of the front and adjacent row. The ends 35 of the V-shaped portions are preferably of serpentine form to prevent relative movement of the elements 32 and the springs. A collar 33 is employed to secure the endmost element 3| to the border wire M.

In Fig. .6 a border element 36 is formed from a plurality of U-shaped wire elements 31, the ends of the arms of which are formed into a hook 38 about the base portion of the next adjacent element. The legs of the elements are secured by hog rings [3 to the top of a spring ll permitting the hinging of each of the elements 31 individu ally as the springs are deflected. This provides a soft edge to the cushion while offering resistance against rearward displacement. The endmost elements 39 have the arms 4| attached to the end spring H with the frontwardly disposed arm attached to the border wire M which is disposed in parallel relation thereto.

In Figs. '7, the elements 31 are illustrated as being projected forwardly of the front edge of the springs to simulate the border wire provided forwardly of the spring edge as is the common prac- I ties. In this arrangement, the base portion 42 of the elements of the spring is placed upon the diameter of the spring H and is secured thereto by a hog ring I 4, one of which is also employed to secure the rear extending arm 43 to the same spring. It will be seen, therefore, that each element 3'! is secured to an individual spring while the endmost elements 44 are secured to the border wire 14 by a collar 2|. Each of the elements 31 are freely hingeable relative to each other to permit downward deflection while offering resistance against rearward deflection.

In Fig. 8, the border element 45 is formed from a continuous wire having a front laterally extending portion 46, a rearwardly extending neck portion 41 and a circular portion 48. The circular portion is substantially the diameter of the springs l I upon which it is secured by hog rings l3. The neck portions 41 extend forwardly of the springs and are secured by collar 2| against individual deflection. Material downward deflection may occur to the front laterally extending portions 46 in View of the length of the ring portions 48 which readily twists while resistance is offered against rearward deflection.

In the various forms illustrated, we have shown a border element which offers resistance against rearward deflection and thereby maintains a straight edge at the forward edge of a cushion. The border element, however, permits the front edge to be deflected downwardly incrementally along the cushion so that the deflection at any one point is proportionate to the loading applied at that point and is not transferrable along the entire length of the seat as was the practice heretofore.

While we have illustrated various forms which the border wire may assume, other forms are suggested thereby, and it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to any of the particular border elements as illustrated, as many changes, additions, omissions, and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the attached claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a seat cushion having a front row of springs which are hingedly secured to each other, the combination with a border element made up of a plurality of V-shaped wires which are hinged together and individual to said springs, and means for supporting said units with one of said wires attached to each of said springs with the hinge portion disposed in a plane tangent to adjacent springs at their points of hinged contact.

2. In a seat cushion construction having a front row of coil springs, a border element comprising a plurality of wires of U-shape having the leg portions hinged together and the base portions in continuation of each other for forming the front cushion edge, means for attachingthe leg portions of said wires to said springs to have the wires deflect individually therewith.

3. In a seat cushion construction, a base frame, rows of springs on said frame, a front border element made of a plurality of U-shaped wires, each having a base portion and leg portions, the said leg portions being attached individually to said springs with the base portions in substantially aligned relation, means for securing adjacent legs of adjacent wires in hinged relation, and a border wire extending along the sides of said cushion construction and attached to the endmost wires of said front border element.

4. A cushion made up of a plurality of adjacent rows of springs, wires secured individually to said springs in the front row and extending forwardly thereof above the front edge of the cushion base frame, said wires having portions extending parallel to the front edge in substantially aligned relation to form the border edge for the top frame, and means for hinging said wires together in planes normal to the front edge to permit individual deflection of the wires and springs.

LYMAN C. FISHER. HARRY L. KEELER.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,334,868. November 23, 1943.

' LYMAN o. FISHER ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 34, claim 1, for V-shaped read U-shaped; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of January, A. D. 1944.

[SEAL] HENRY VAN ARSDALE,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

